Automatic analyzer

Abstract

Disclosed is an automatic analyzer that analyzes a component of a target layer of a test sample separated into a plurality of layers by transferring the component from an installed container, including: a dispensing probe that descends into the target layer and suctions the component; a detecting unit that detects the height of the layer surface of the target layer of the test sample; a calculating unit that calculates the depth from the layer surface of the target layer at which the total content of the component of the target layer reaches a target amount; and a controller that causes the dispensing probe to descend to the depth calculated by the calculating unit and suction the component.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An automatic analyzer that suctions a test sample from a sample and discharges the sample into a container of predetermined volume or size to produce a reaction between the test sample and a reagent, comprising:
 a dispensing probe configured to lower into a target layer of the sample separated into a plurality of layers to suction component in the target layer as the test sample; 
 a photometer to measure changes of the reaction; and 
 a controller configured to include: 
 a concentration-gradient memory unit configured to preliminarily store concentration gradient data representing the concentration at a depth of said component in said target layer; 
 a sample level sensor to detect a layer surface of said target layer; and 
 a lowering-distance calculating unit configured to calculate a lowering distance from the layer surface of said target layer by adding concentrations of respective points in a depth direction from the layer surface of said target layer to obtain a totally contained amount, and to compare the totally contained amount with a target amount of suctioning a component in the target layer, the lowering distance being calculated as a depth when the totally contained amount reaches the target amount, wherein 
 the controller is configured to cause said dispensing probe to lower based on said lowering distance calculated by said lowering-distance calculating unit to suction said component; 
 the controller is configured to include a determining unit to determine a volume of the target layer using the known volume or size of the container and a height of the surface of the target layer relative to the container determined by the sample level sensor; and 
 the lowering-distance calculating unit uses the concentration data comprising concentration of the component as a function of depth in the volume of the target layer to determine the totally contained amount of the component. 
 
     
     
       2. The automatic analyzer according to  claim 1 , wherein the lowering-distance calculating unit integrates concentration to determine the totally contained amount. 
     
     
       3. The automatic analyzer according to  claim 1 , further comprising a patient-information memory unit configured to store patient information including at least one of the age and sex of the provider of said test sample, wherein:
 said concentration-gradient memory unit is configured to preliminarily store said concentration gradient data corresponding to said patient information; and 
 said calculating unit is configured to calculate said depth based on said concentration gradient data corresponding to said patient information. 
 
     
     
       4. The automatic analyzer according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 each concentration gradient over an elapsed time is stored as said concentration gradient data; and 
 said calculating unit is configured to calculate said depth based on the concentration gradient over the elapsed time from a time when said container is installed to a time when said component is transferred. 
 
     
     
       5. The automatic analyzer according to  claim 4 , further comprising a sensor configured to sense installation of said container. 
     
     
       6. The automatic analyzer according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said determining unit is configured to compare information regarding content of said component within said target layer with a predetermined threshold of the content of the component of said target layer, and 
 said controller is configured to stop lowering to said depth and suctioning if a result of the comparison of said determining unit indicates that the information regarding the content of said component is below said threshold. 
 
     
     
       7. The automatic analyzer according to  claim 6 , wherein said sample level sensor is configured to detect the layer surface of said target layer by detecting changes in electrical resistance caused by differences between liquid layers by means of a sensor. 
     
     
       8. The automatic analyzer according to  claim 6 , wherein said sample level sensor is configured to detect the layer surface of said target layer by detecting changes in capacitance caused by differences between liquid layers by means of a capacitive sensor. 
     
     
       9. The automatic analyzer according to  claim 6 , wherein said sample level sensor is configured to detect the layer surface of said target layer by detecting changes in pressure or viscosity caused by differences between liquid layers by means of a sensor. 
     
     
       10. The automatic analyzer according to  claim 7 , wherein said controller is further configured to include a threshold memory unit configured to store various thresholds for the total content of the component of said target layer corresponding to type information of each said container, wherein
 said determining unit is configured to compare said threshold corresponding to the type information with said height by obtaining the type information of said container containing said test sample. 
 
     
     
       11. The automatic analyzer according to  claim 6 , wherein, if the information regarding the content of said component is below said threshold, said determining unit is configured to cause an error indicating a content insufficiency to be stored corresponding to said test sample.